Nov. 2006 -- Cutting-edge forensic tools make technology the best supporting actor on hot television shows CSI and CSI: Miami. In the real world, budding crime scene investigators at Trent University’s Forensic Science program are turning to HP mobile technology for stellar support in courses such as Forensic DNA Laboratory Analysis.
Trent is one of four institutions across Canada that received an HP Canada Technology for Teaching: Higher Education grant this year. The grants, new in 2006, were also awarded to Queen’s University, the Rotman School of Management and Simon Fraser University.
The HP Technology for Teaching: Higher Education grant initiative supports the development of mobile technology environments that will:
• Expand access to high quality, higher education opportunities;
• Transform teaching and learning in the higher education environment, increasing student success;
• Be a catalyst for larger campus initiatives in integrating technology into the learning environment;
• Engage a large number of faculty in adopting and implementing these models in their classrooms;
• Foster publication, demonstration and presentation opportunities for academic leaders on the application of technology in higher education learning environments.
“The HP Technology for Teaching initiative focuses on transforming teaching and learning through technology,” says Lynn Anderson, Vice President, Marketing and Alliances, HP Canada. “By integrating mobile technology in meaningful ways into their classrooms, instructors can increase student achievement and interest and prepare them for greater success in the competitive global workforce.”
The grants include a product bundle for one faculty member (including a wireless Tablet PC, docking station and digital projector) and approximately $17,000 in cash for a specific project. Also included is equipment valued at more than $80,000, including 20 Tablet PCs; 20 external drive bays and optical drives; one access point with wireless card; a 20-unit laptop cart; and one all-in-one printer and digital camera. This equipment was delivered to each of the universities in October.
At Trent University, HP mobile technology will be used in the university’s Forensic Science program to support courses ranging from Crime Scene Investigation to Forensic DNA Laboratory Analysis and the presentation of forensic evidence in court. Sample collections of crime scene procedures will be forwarded to the laboratory course for DNA analysis. HP mobile technology will also enable electronic data transfer and physical sample tracking for DNA analysis, using barcodes and radio frequency identification technology through remote mobile computer terminals.
Simon Fraser’s School of Computing Science is using the HP mobile technology to give students hands-on experience with complex system software. Teams of students compete against each other by designing and operating virtual bookstores. This virtual business experience teaches complex methods of organizing, managing and coordinating exchanges in a dynamic, competitive environment.
“This approach will help make abstract computer science feel more real for students,” says Professor Jian Pei. “It answers the question: ‘Why am I doing this?’”
The Rotman School of Management’s core MBA Finance course relies heavily on case teaching, where students read a business case, work in small groups to analyze it, develop solution proposals and models, and then present their solution in class. HP’s technology transforms the critical in-class learning component by providing real-time access to each other’s computer-generated models. The students are able to analyze, adapt, combine and further develop models to blend their efforts into one comprehensive solution.
At Queen’s, fourth-year Mechanical and Materials Engineering students can take a computer-simulation-based capstone design course that provides a demanding real-world team experience. The HP wireless technology allows students to share sketches and notes as they brainstorm their designs, either in face-to-face meetings or at different locations on campus. Students can also download PDF files of professors’ lecture presentations and add their own notes during the lectures.
“The portability is so convenient,” says student Paul Murray, who received one of the Tablet PCs. “The ability to use computers in class is a definite advantage, especially in computer simulation-based courses. For the design project, everyone in our group has the laptops, making it much easier to share information. In-class note-taking is also convenient, since I can just write additional notes on what the professor has already uploaded as lecture notes.”
Lynn Anderson says the program is a natural fit for HP. “We want to reach out and help our communities in way that makes sense.,” she adds. “The schools will use our technology to transform the learning experience.”
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